Lynn's Books
Lynn has published more than 60 books, including For Better or For Worse® comic collections, a book for Spanish students, a guide for teenagers leaving home for the first time, and collections of single-panel comics she drew for her obstetrician before she created FBorFW. Some of these books are available signed in our store. Others are out of print, and you'll need to check your local used bookshop, or search online, to find them.
Popular storylines: Lawrence's coming-out story is in There Goes My Baby!, or Volume 4 of the Complete Library treasury books. The book that features Farley's death is Starting from Scratch, or Volume 5 of the Complete Library. You can read about Lawrence coming out here on our site, or revisit Farley's death here. The book Remembering Farley is a collection of strips about Farley's life.
Before FBorFW:
In 1972, while Lynn was expecting her first child, her obstetrician asked her to draw comics to decorate the ceiling of his office to entertain the expectant mothers. Lynn's drawings were published in her first book, David, We're Pregnant! in 1973. It became a bestseller, and she followed it up with Hi Mom! Hi Dad! and Do They Ever Grow Up? These books got the attention of Universal Press Syndicate, who offered Lynn the contract to do For Better or For Worse®.
These books are now out of print and hard to find—check your local used bookstore if you'd like a copy!
David, We're Pregnant!
Lynn's first book of cartoons, this is a pre-FBorFW look at pregnancy and parenting. This book was originally released in 1973, and has been reprinted with a variety of covers over the years. It is currently out of print, and hard to find.
Hi Mom! Hi Dad!
This is Lynn's second book of pre-FBorFW cartoons, offering a glimpse into the funny side of being new parents. This book has been reprinted with various covers over the years, and is currently out of print.
Do They Ever Grow Up?
Lynn's third book of pre-FBorFW cartoons, this continues her series of books about the lighter side of parenting. This book has been reprinted with various covers over the years, and is currently out of print.
FBorFW Collections:
I've Got The One-More-Washload Blues
This is the first book in the FBorFW collection!! Stay-at-home mom, Elly, does her best to cope with the chaos of kids; Elizabeth is a baby just learning to talk, and five year old Michael develops his first crush. Who could have foreseen what was in store for this loveable family?
Is This "One of Those Days," Daddy?
In this, the second book of the FBorFW collection, the Pattersons add a new addition to their family—puppy Farley. Farley's antics are sure to bring a smile to your face. Michael joins the local hockey league, and meets Gordon for the first time, who soon becomes his close friend.
It Must Be Nice to Be Little
The Patterson family is growing up! Elizabeth is in daycare and Michael is in school, which gives Elly the chance to spread her wings. She volunteers at the local paper, reconnects with her writing abilities, and rediscovers what working outside the home feels like!
More Than a Month of Sundays
A curated collection of Lynn’s favourite Sunday comics from the early years of FBorFW. Elly and John are right in the thick of it—life is busy with two young kids: tantrums, toys, treats and trouble! This collection has it all and in full color! Kids are cute, but they’re a lot of work!
Just One More Hug
This 4th collection book further delves into the trials and joys facing the Patterson family. Michael runs into trouble at school with a bully, Elly gets an actual paying job at the library, and Elizabeth gets into everything!! The family travels west to visit John's sister and her family.
Our Sunday Best
This collection of full colour Sunday comics from the early 80s is a follow-up to More Than a Month of Sundays. Michael and Elizabeth are a little older and a little wiser but just as mischievous. Elly and John do their best to balance work and home life and still find time for a little fun.
The Last Straw
Michael is beginning to grow up. He is trusted to fly alone to visit his grandparents in Vancouver. Elizabeth gets lost at the airport, Elly goes on her very first business trip, and John is left home to keep things in order—you'll have to read this collection to see how that turns out!
Keep the Home Fries Burning
Join the Pattersons for a full volume of hilarious and touching cartoon fun. Elly gets a taste of fame as one of her poems is published, giving her a renewed passion for writing. Connie and Lawrence move away, and Lizzie gets to be a Christmas star in the school pageant.
It's All Downhill From Here
John and Phil, Elly's brother, go camping—they go missing after their canoe gets swamped! Connie gets remarried and moves back to the Pattersons' neighborhood with her new husband, Greg, Lawrence and his two teenage stepsisters—new targets for Michael's pranks.
Pushing 40
Pushing 40 provides new dimensions of Lynn's lively and entertaining portrayal of family life—bringing nods of recognition with her sensitive insight and wry sense of humour. Lynn approaches the death of family friend Mrs. Baird proving that comics can effectively cover serious matters.
A Look Inside...For Better or For Worse: The 10th Anniversary Collection
This 10th anniversary collection includes bonus content: read about Lynn’s early years and what lead to creating cartoons. For the Pattersons, Michael turns 13 and his hormones are raging, Liz is enjoying being Daddy’s little girl, and Elly changes things up with a new hairstyle.
If This is a Lecture, How Long Will it Be?
Living with a teenager isn't easy—just ask the Pattersons, who are dealing with a teenage boy and his attitude. Michael finds his first real girlfriend in Martha, and Elizabeth feels the crunch of being the youngest child but finds her niche helping her dad in his workshop.
What, Me Pregnant?
Elly, who is juggling a new job, the adolescent traumas of Mike and Liz, plus the usual housework woes, finds out she is pregnant! The shock wears off and the family prepares to welcome a new family member—a beautiful new baby girl. Back to midnight feedings and changing diapers!
Things are Looking Up
Lynn exposes the gamut of a family’s emotions as the adults wrestle with all the pressures of marriage, parenting, and dealing with elderly parents while the youngsters, now eighteen months, eleven, and sixteen, confront the bittersweet experience of growing up.
There Goes My Baby!
This collection illustrates Lynn's ability to probe serious issues. It includes the sequence where a family friend reveals that he is gay (leading to a Pulitzer Prize nomination for Lynn). Also included are the standard foibles of teenagers, trials of tots, and the stresses of marriage.
It's the Thought That Counts: The 15th Anniversary Collection
This 15th anniversary collection is a special treat for FBorFW fans. It includes a handpicked selection of color Sundays, the birth of April, Lawrence's coming-out sequence, aging parents, and much more. Lynn has also included amusing commentary about some of her favorite strips.
Starting From Scratch
Starting from scratch deals with changes families often face: from a mom who changes jobs to a child leaving the nest for his first semester at university; from a budding young daughter filing out a bustier to the death of a beloved family pet. Farley sadly, but heroically, exits the strip.
Love Just Screws Everything Up
Michael and Elizabeth discover that affairs of the heart are often more about pain than passion—and that sometimes, "Love Just Screws Everything Up!" Heartwarming and humorous, the Pattersons always make us smile—and teach us more about what’s important in life.
Growing Like a Weed
This collection often focuses on Michael and his friend Weed, but is also a look into the growth of the Pattersons as a family. Elly and John are adapting (not always gracefully) to the onset of middle age, April is growing taller, Elizabeth more mature, and Michael more independent.
Middle Age Spread
Lynn tackles the realities of life when Elly's aging mother is hospitalized. Elly and April go to Vancouver to visit. Later, John and Elly take a road trip, Liz creates a new look for herself, Michael struggles through his second year of university, and April becomes "Sockhead the Super Hero."
Sunshine & Shadow
Sunshine & Shadow is the only For Better or For Worse® collection that focuses rather consistently on a serious subject. The Patterson family's light-hearted approach to living continues despite their journey into the inevitable experience of loss as a loved one passes on.
The Lives Behind the Lines : 20 Years of For Better or For Worse
Twenty years of For Better or For Worse®! This book includes a rare look at each of the main characters, plus behind-the-scenes stories that readers are anxious to know. Find out about the 'supporting cast' as Lynn divulges what makes each character tick—and what ties them all together.
The Big 5-0
Join the Pattersons as John celebrates his 50th birthday and deals with the side effects of reaching this milestone. Elly returns to work at Lilliputs, Liz decides she would like to be a teacher, Michael wins an award for his writing, and April teaches Elly how to use the computer.
Graduation: A Time For Change
Follow along as the Pattersons enjoy another year of trials, smiles and memorable moments. This collection highlights Michael's graduation and his engagement to Deanna. Elizabeth heads off to university and April enters grade three, making Elly and John wonder where the time has gone.
Family Business
In this collection, the Pattersons join forces to buy and reorganize the store where Elly has worked for years. Through their efforts, they learn more about their relationships with each other, and how great it feels to pull together as a family—to celebrate their accomplishments.
With This Ring
It’s a big year for new relationships. Wanting to avoid an elaborate wedding, Mike and Deanna marry in secret. Meanwhile, Grandpa Jim begins a slow, sweet courtship, and Elizabeth moves in with her boyfriend. Anthony, Liz’s high school boyfriend, becomes engaged to someone else.
Reality Check
In the latest update on the Patterson family, life is happening—still adjusting to being newlyweds, Mike and Deanna discover a baby is on the way. Elizabeth finds out that her boyfriend has been cheating on her. Grandpa Jim catches everyone off-guard when he and Iris elope.
Striking a Chord
Elly and John apprehensively face their fifties, Mike and Deanna tackle new parenthood, Elizabeth confronts career choices, and April loses a beloved pet. Striking a Chord brings compassion, understanding, and a light-hearted touch to every human interaction.
Never Wink at a Worried Woman
Life is progressing for each character; Elly and John tenuously consider retirement, Michael and Deanna grow into their roles as new parents, while Michael's career gets a new boost. Elizabeth begins her student teaching. April, who is nearly 13, has a band and helps out at Lilliput's bookstore.
She's Turning Into One of Them!
In this collection, Elly experiences the downside of being a business owner when one of her staff is caught stealing. Michael and Deanna enjoy another pregnancy and the birth of their second child, Elizabeth moves to Mtigwaki to teach, and the character Shannon Lake is introduced.
Teaching...is a Learning Experience!
Needing more space, Mike and Deanna move to Lovey's upstairs apartment. Liz returns to Mtigwaki after an assault at the hands of a co-worker. Elly attends a Pow-Wow while visiting Elizabeth up north. April spends a summer on the farm in Manitoba before beginning high school.
Seniors' Discount
Elly has reached the age of the seniors' discount! Grandpa Jim celebrates his 85th birthday and suffers a stroke. Mike and Deanna adjust to the demands of parenthood, Liz accepts a teaching position that brings her back home, and April strains for more and more independence.
Home Sweat Home
In Home Sweat Home, John and Elly downsize to a new home and Mike and Deanna buy the family homestead to raise their children in. Elizabeth has her heart broken only to have it won back by Anthony. April turns sixteen and will soon be driving—which is driving her parents crazy.
Just a Simple Wedding
Just A Simple Wedding is the final collection book of the For Better or For Worse® series. Elly and John, now grandparents, adapt to a smaller home, while Michael and his family spread out in the old Patterson house. Elizabeth and Anthony celebrate their wedding, bringing things full circle.
A Look Inside...For Better or For Worse: The 10th Anniversary Collection
This 10th anniversary collection includes bonus content: read about Lynn’s early years and what lead to creating cartoons. For the Pattersons, Michael turns 13 and his hormones are raging, Liz is enjoying being Daddy’s little girl, and Elly changes things up with a new hairstyle.
It's the Thought That Counts: The 15th Anniversary Collection
This 15th anniversary collection is a special treat for FBorFW fans. It includes a handpicked selection of color Sundays, the birth of April, Lawrence's coming-out sequence, aging parents, and much more. Lynn has also included amusing commentary about some of her favorite strips.
The Lives Behind the Lines : 20 Years of For Better or For Worse
Twenty years of For Better or For Worse®! This book includes a rare look at each of the main characters, plus behind-the-scenes stories that readers are anxious to know. Find out about the 'supporting cast' as Lynn divulges what makes each character tick—and what ties them all together.
Suddenly Silver : Celebrating 25 Years of For Better or For Worse
Suddenly Silver is brimming with musings and comments about Lynn’s daily life and how that life is reflected in one of cartoondom's most loved and followed families. And for extra insights, Lynn’s family members have contributed their thoughts and little-known facts about Lynn and the strip.
Remembering Farley
In this special tribute, Lynn shares her favorite FBorFW comic strips about the life of Farley the sheepdog. This retrospective includes strips from Farley's puppy days to his heroic death; scenes that capture the essence of raising and loving a pet, and the sadness of the inevitable goodbye.
All About April : Our Little Girl Grows Up!
April Patterson entered the world of For Better or For Worse® on April 1, 1991. In this Special Edition collection, Lynn has gathered her favorite strips chronicling April's fun-filled and rambunctious first ten years, offers words of insight into April's thoughts and experiences.
So You're Gonna Be a Grandma! : A For Better or For Worse® Book
It is hard to know who looks forward to a new baby more—an expectant parent, or an expectant grandmother. So You're Going to Be a Grandma! covers all the doubts and questions, joys and successes, as a new grandma proves to be a godsend to her new grandchild and its parents.
I Love My Grandpa : A For Better or For Worse® Book
I Love My Grandpa! celebrates the relationship a child has with his or her grandfather. This charming book covers some of the thrills and spills of becoming a "grandpa"—surprised by the unexpected joy of holding a baby again and playing a special role in the life of a growing youngster.
Isn't He Beautiful : A For Better or For Worse® Little Book
This 3.75" by 3.25" hardcover book features carefully chosen, full color illustrations from the popular comic, For Better or For Worse®. This little charmer offers words of encouragement and joy on a most special family moment—the arrival of a baby boy! An ideal gift for new or expecting parents.
Isn't She Beautiful : A For Better or For Worse® Little Book
This 3.75" by 3.25" hardcover book features carefully chosen, full color illustrations from the popular comic, For Better or For Worse®. This little charmer offers words of encouragement and joy on a most special family moment—the arrival of a baby girl! An ideal gift for new or expecting parents.
A Perfect Christmas : A For Better or For Worse® Little Book
This 3.75" by 3.25" hardcover book features carefully chosen, full color illustrations from the popular comic, For Better or For Worse®. The Patterson clan learns what a perfect Christmas truly is! It's the joy of giving, the preciousness of child-made ornaments, and bringing in the season together with love.
Wags And Kisses : A For Better or For Worse® Little Book
This 3.75" by 3.25" hardcover book features carefully chosen, full color illustrations from the popular comic, For Better or For Worse®. As endearing as a playful pup, this little book pairs charming watercolor cartoons with humorous verse that illustrates why dogs are such a special part of our lives.
Graduation ... just the beginning ! : A For Better or Worse® Little Book
This 3.75" by 3.25" hardcover book features carefully chosen, full color illustrations from the popular comic, For Better or For Worse®. This book collects moments from the Pattersons' lives and celebrates the many passages children make—from kindergarten all the way to college.
Alottabotz® Book 1: The Botshop
In the robot world of the Alottabotz, a boy named Tim has just moved from Tinkertown to Cyberland City with his family. Tim is struggling to adjust—he is lonely and bored. When his grandbot suggests he make a friend, Tim doesn't suspect that they will actually build one in Grandbot's workshop!
Alottabotz® Book 2: Marvellous Things
For years, there have been no pets in Cyberland City. When Tim's grandbot makes him a mechanical dog, the neighbours are delighted. All of the children in the town now want a pet, too. With the support of the local recycling depot, and some extra helping hands, Gramps creates mechanical pets for everyone!
Alottabotz® Book 3: A Dog With No Name
Timbot loves the new puppy that his Grandbot built for him, but he can’t decide what to name him. When the dog runs off, Tim is unable to call him back since the dog doesn’t have a name. With Grandbot’s quick thinking, they are able to find the dog and bring him home safely.
Alottabotz® Book 4: The Big Trip
Timbot has always wanted to fly with his dad. As the captain of an interplanetary spaceship, Dadbot has seen some spectacular things. When an opportunity comes for Tim and his mother to go on a trip in his father’s spaceship, they eagerly climb aboard. They travel from one galaxy to another and visit many planets along the way. After a number of weeks and some interesting encounters, Tim is ready to go home. Being away has made Tim appreciate home just a little more.
Alottabotz® Book 5: A Little Kindness
Timbot takes the trolley to school where he has many friends—each one unique. One of his classmates, Pella, has trouble learning because she can't stay still. Some of the kids at school tease her and call her names. This really bothers Tim and he decides to step in. He turns to his family for help. His Grandpabot has an idea! He makes Pella a contraption that allows her to stop flying so she can learn. Tim learns a lesson, too: helping a friend is a great thing to do.
Alottabotz® Book 6: The Best Prize
Timbot's dad has some time off work. He decides to take Tim and Grandpabot to the annual "Funniest Fish Derby." Tim desperately wants to win. He is overjoyed when he catches a big fish, but instead of catching a funny fish, he catches a rare one. The local aquarium is called and happily accepts the new and rare specimen. When the fish is released into the big display tank, something amazing happens. Tim, his dadbot and Grandpabot have unwittingly engineered a very happy reunion.
Farley Follows His Nose
Good-natured and ever-hungry, Farley goes wherever his nose leads him. But as one delicious smell follows another, soon Farley is meeting new friends and exploring parts of town he's never seen before. Just how far has he wandered? Will he find a familiar smell to lead him back home?
Farley And The Lost Bone
This children's tale features sheepdog Farley as he digs in Elly's flowerbed, under John's model railway set, and inside Lizzie's sandbox until he remembers where he buried his tasty bone. Each page contains a doodle of a cleverly hidden bone to find as you read the story!
For Better or For Worse®: The Complete Library, Volume 1: 1979-1982
This series is the definitive edition, collecting every published For Better or For Worse® comic strip in nine volumes. Since the comic’s debuted in 1979, the world has watched the Patterson family grow up in real time—and to many readers, they feel like family! This book starts at the very beginning and reprints more than three years of the daily and Sunday comics.
For Better or For Worse®: The Complete Library, Volume 2: 1983-1986
New adventures await Elizabeth as she enters kindergarten and has to spend some time in the hospital. Michael has to deal with a bully at school and takes a flight to Vancouver—all by himself! John has an unfortunate accident and is arrested for breaking and entering! And Elly finds a worthwhile cause in heading up a campaign to save the historic city hall.
For Better or For Worse®: The Complete Library, Volume 3: 1986-1989
John and Phil's canoe trip turns them into castaways! Back in civilization, John solves his mid-life crisis by buying a sportscar, and Elly winds up in front of a judge as a result! Michael enters junior high school after learning a life lesson at summer camp. Liz loses her first tooth and gets her ears pierced. Then it's wedding bells for Uncle Phil, and Lawrence moves back to town.
For Better or For Worse®: The Complete Library, Volume 4: 1989-1993
Elly finds out she is pregnant! April grows from a toddler to a three-year-old. Michael gets his first summer job, a steady girlfriend, and a driver’s license. Elizabeth, navigating middle school, copes with wearing glasses. John buys his first model train. The highlight, however, is Lawrence’s coming out, a tale for which Lynn deservedly received a Pulitzer Prize nomination.
For Better or For Worse®: The Complete Library, Volume 5: 1993-1996
This volume features one of the most beloved stories in the strip's history—April gets into big trouble and it’s Farley to the rescue. Michael heads to college, meets his new roommate and reunites with an old flame. Elizabeth has her first serious relationship and spends a summer on the farm. Elly and John deal with adult problems: renovations, career changes, and menopause.
For Better or For Worse®: The Complete Library, Volume 6: 1996-1999
Romance is in the air as Michael starts dating a girl; something tells him that she is “the one.” Elizabeth struggles to find her identity in the halls of high school and April begins kindergarten! Meanwhile, Elly deals with the loss of a loved one, and John hits the big 5-0. Gordon and Tracey have a baby, Weed and Mike go on a world tour, and Lawrence meets his father for the first time!
For Better or For Worse®: The Complete Library, Volume 7: 2000-2003
The Pattersons weather a host of tumultuous changes as the strip enters the 21st century—Elizabeth moves in with her boyfriend, Michael and Weed move to Toronto, Michael and Deanna get married and anticipate the birth of their first child. Plus, they step out of their comfort zones when Elly buys a bookstore, Elizabeth starts a teaching job, and April forms a garage band!
For Better or For Worse®: The Complete Library, Volume 8: 2003-2006
Elizabeth begins her teaching career when she graduates from university and moves to the fictional Indigenous town of Mtigwaki, Michael’s writing career shifts gears when he goes freelance but finds it isn’t easy to manage when their second child is on the way, and April enters her teenage years and forms a garage band called 4Evah. Meanwhile, Elly and John begin the process of retiring when Elly sells Lilliputs.
For Better or For Worse®: The Complete Library, Volume 9: 2006-2008
The For Better or For Worse® saga comes to an end in this final volume that finishes collecting Lynn Johnston’s comic strip masterpiece. A fire at Michael and Deanna’s apartment building leaves their family without a place to stay, but this coincides with John’s retirement and desire to downsize their house. April takes one last summer trip to the farm and gets a job at a veterinarian clinic. And finally, the entire cast comes together for the wedding of Elizabeth and Anthony.
Something Old, Something New
In 2008, Lynn Johnston made an unprecedented move within the cartooning community by using former plotlines as starting points for new ones. To this end, Something Old, Something New features storylines from the strip's first two For Better or Worse® cartoon collection books and the first Sundays-only collection book with new cartoons and full-color Sunday strips.
In The Beginning, There Was Chaos
In this second treasury, Lynn takes readers back to the 1980s. As Elly chases her professional goals, she struggles with being home less. John plays Mr. Mom, breaks his foot with a 25-pound turkey, and gets arrested for trying to steal a potty. The kids are always in tow—Michael learns that with age comes responsibility, and Elizabeth discovers the thrills of kindergarten.
Making Ends Meet
Michael runs into trouble with a school bully, Elly gets a job at the library, and Elizabeth gets into everything!! The family travels west to visit John's sister on the family farm. Michael begins to spread his wings as he flies alone to Vancouver, Elizabeth gets lost at the airport, Elly goes on her very first business trip and John is left home to keep things in order.
It's One Thing After Another
In addition to the comic panels, Lynn has included candid commentary that offers readers an insight into the creation and development of America’s favourite family-oriented comic strip. This treasury features personal photos, stories and newspaper clippings detailing memorable moments in lives of Lynn and her family, the inspiration for the Pattersons.
Laugh 'n' Learn Spanish
Learning a new language should be fun! Sit back, laugh, and learn Spanish! These cartoons will have you laughing your way through your lessons as you expand your vocabulary, comprehension, and conversational skills. You’ll learn how to talk in Spanish about everyday things: making requests, expressing hope, plans for the future, going shopping, exploring relationships, and so on.
Leaving Home
For anyone leaving home for the first time, this guidebook is an essential tool. Never preachy, always informative and full of laughs, this book is packed with tried-and-true nuggets; from tips on finding an apartment, to tips on getting your eviction notice reversed. Pearls of wisdom, and insightful cartoons, make this a must-read for anyone starting life on their own.
For Better or For Worse®: The Comic Art of Lynn Johnston
This book features some of Lynn's most popular narratives, interspersed with an essay that chronicles the development of her drawing, her life, influences both personal and artistic, and the history of her wildly successful comic strip. This book also gathers together a generous selection of Lynn's daily comic strips and Sunday pages, spanning the lives of the Patterson family.